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When a child actress is called a vile name by an long-running satire site, a beautiful young singer is labeled a stoner for wearing dreadlocks and a phenomenal 13-year old-female athlete is called a slut, they deserve more than a canned, robotic mea culpa.

It feels like Hollywood is finally starting to get what so many of us knew all along; audiences want to see diversity. Yet somehow, at this exciting moment of progress for the industry, Deadline Hollywood found it appropriate to publish what can only be described as a call for regression.

John's life has a lesson for us today. His struggle -- our struggle -- for a just society, for true equality and respect -- is not over. Far from it. All we have to look at is the widespread assault on the Voting Rights Act today. But like him, we cannot walk away; we cannot give up.

There's nothing to be happy about -- no feel-good takeaways -- when a middle school girl gets insulted by a man and has to speak up for him so he can continue a baseball career no one gives a fuck about. She is not supposed to be anyone's savior or protector. We need to be saving and protecting her.

Channeling the revolutionary essence of the Harlem Renaisance, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly is a gripping, soul-driven melodrama that masterfully depicts the story of a courageous young man fighting through the painful process of liberating himself.

In our everyday fights to silence the racist chants of misguided college students and stifle overaggressive police who racially profile black children, we must reach the finish line. The next generation should never have to question whether their lives matter.

Despite past voting obstacles, there are compelling reasons for blacks in Ferguson to rush to barricades this time to vote. One is the prospect of a regime change. Another is they could move to dump the racket that city officials have run for years that criminalizes virtually the city entire black population. Another is there's no excuse.

The n-word has the blood of thousands of lynchings, beatings, and other horrific crimes melded between its letters, meshed in its very fibers. So, why do some white people want the right to use this abhorrent word again?

I was running errands with my youngest two children in tow when an acquaintance of ours spotted us and came over to say hello. She looked at my son, marveling over how much he had grown.
"Yes," I smiled, "He's a big boy!" She replied, "Such a cute little thug." My son is 2 years old.

While we applaud Starbucks for their effort to engage a topic that many seek to avoid, and while their efforts seem well-intentioned, we, as a national racial justice organization, with a name similar to the hashtag used in the campaign feel compelled to say: as a nation, we need more.

Funding for school policing programs has expanded and more school-based police are being armed with the same weapons cops carry on the streets. This expansion has not come with significant strings attached or proper guidelines.

With all due respect to Pastors Creflo and Taffi, instead of wasting community funds on frivolous expenses like a Gulfstream G650, maybe you should spend more time reaching out to the community in order to understand what they need, and how you can use your ministry to support them!

Until the age of 16 swimming was something that took over my life; between two-a-day practices, traveling for competitions, and supporting teammates, my time was mostly spent in the pool or cheering right next to it.

Last week, the Presidents and Deans of America's 13 United Methodist Seminaries -- representing over 5,000 seminarians, including over 1,000 African-Americans -- wrote a thoughtful open letter outlining a vision from which all of us, whatever our faith tradition, can learn.

I have benefitted from black gay privilege throughout my career as a senior human resources, financial and diversity officer. I have accessed spaces and opportunities that "stereotypical" black men were not able to access.

Holder gushed about the show, which went off the air after its fifth season in 2008, as he spoke alongside several of the show's cast members Tuesday at the Justice Department. "Having looked at those clips again, I'm reminded how great that series was," he said.

"I want to speak directly to Mr. Burns and Mr. Simon, do another season of 'The Wire.' ... I want another season, or a movie," he implored, hoping his instructions would make their way back to creators Ed Burns and David Simon. "I have a lot of power," he chuckled.

Holder and other government officials are touting the show because of how accurately it depicts the plight of kids who are exposed to the use, manufacture or trafficking of drugs in their homes. Last year, DOJ established an intra-agency task force to help these children, who often become victims of violence.

National Drug Control Policy czar Gil Kerlikowske (after asking the actors to sign his boxed sets of the series, naturally) explained that episodes of the show are used to educate people, including lawmakers, on these sensitive issues.

Comments: (17)

By: PR on 6/06/2011 6:16PM

Neutral

I loved the "Wire" when it on HBO. I hope someone would bring it back. It is too bad it can't come back on a non cable station. It needs to be on a non cable station so it can be viewed like "Law and Order" (which I also enjoy, especially Special Victims and the new season with Terrance Howard

By: Deb on 6/02/2011 1:50PM

High Ranked

Well Mr. Holder then have them film in YOUR hood because I agree with then Mayor now Gov O'Malley that show made Bodymore a natl joke. Oh and when the so called Wire actress just got caught in a drug raid we became a natl joke again. What did 16yr old Phylicia Barnes' mother say when her NC honor roll student daughter was found floating in a MD river after visiting her drug using flop house living half sister in Murdermore "I'll NEVER step foot in that city again!" RIP Angel I hope your mother got my donation for funeral and reward! The Wire would have definitely exploited her death for a great storyline!!!

So maybe at your expensive tailored suit dinners you think The Wire is great TV but to those of us who live in B more..I'll take reruns of The Cosby Show or A Different World anyday. These kids need to see they can be well educated Drs and lawyers (not rappers and entertainers and sports stars)........ as a matter of fact I'm down the street from The Obamas in The Black House so let me go cleanse from even thinking about The d@ Wire!!!!

By: PR on 5/31/2012 6:50PM

Neutral

I loved the "Wire" when it was on HBO. I hope someone would bring it back.It is too bad it can't come back on a non cable station. It needs tobe on a non cable station so it can be viewed like "Law and Order"(which I also enjoy), especially The Special Victims Series and the new seasonwith Terrance Howard.

By: weekendbraider on 6/02/2011 1:56PM

By: Deb on 6/02/2011 2:10PM

Neutral

Thats fine bring it back BUT to another city...sadly when people go to NYC L&O hasn't made it a natl crime joke. All B more makes the national news for is crime (with a former corrupt Mayor), drugs and dumb children!!!! I can't tell you how many people in other cities have said The Wire degrades B more.

By: TK on 6/02/2011 3:27PM

Neutral

I know some very intelligent kids from the Baltimore School for the Arts (Jada is an alum)who were told they spoke too well for The Wire in an audition. Needed them to be more hood rat (with a criminal record) I guess like Wire actress who was caught up in drug raid.....but this is what black media promotes?????

By: DJ on 6/04/2011 11:42AM

Neutral

This is what the series called for;the WIRE was not the Cosby Show and unfortunately the characters called for a different kind of actor. Fortunately, there are more venues for these young folks today than previously. They even have the opportunity to create their own opportunities, given new media/technologies. I understand that many of the show's cast members stayed behind to do Uplift work in the community where the series was filmed. I am sorry for the damage that the WIRE did to Bmore. I can tell from the responses here and from talking to friends, that the series had an overall negative impact upon the city, particularly the youth, who took on the behaviors of some of the series most flawed characters, as well as gave the city a black eye. For those of us who live elsewhere the Wire (in addition to being well written, produced and performed) provided an eye-opener which exposed the educational, governmental, social and criminal justice systems in this country and their role in undermining inner-city communities and children. For some, it created a greater consciousness to take to battle with them as they work against and within these systems to make things better. The best to you. Peace.

By: Dj on 6/04/2011 11:47AM

By: mjenk10733 on 6/02/2011 3:45PM

Neutral

That show "The Wire" is the best police show ever.I also think "Chicago Code" could also be furthur developed. I am 65 years old and I have seen them all from Naked city, Hill street Blues etc. It may seem to some people from Baltimore that they were targeted, but; every one of the Police series happened in a different city. I think that the audience knows that there are problems in most large cities so no one is being targeted.